Novelty and amusement faucet

ABSTRACT

A novelty and amusement device comprising a simulated faucet having a suction cup whereby the faucet can be detachably secured to any supporting surface which will retain a suction cup, to present the appearance of a conventional faucet properly supported thereon. The simulated faucet provides a container which may be filled with liquid or the like so that by turning the faucet handle the liquid in the container will flow from the faucet, simulating that of a conventional faucet. The simulated provides an unexpected result when mounted on an unconventional surface such as a dining room or bedroom wall and the above stated turning action is taken.

States Patent Mciilnln [4 1 Jan. 18,1972

[54} NOVELTY AND AMUSEMENT FAUCET [72] Inventor: William A. McMillan,Los Angeles, Calif. [73] Assignee: l-l. Fishlove & Co., Chicago, Ill.[22] Filed: Apr. 13, 1970 [21] App]. No.: 28,356

[52] US. Cl [51] lint. Cl. ..A63j 23/00 [58] Field of Search ..272/8 R,8 N, 27 R, 27 N;

H. Fishlove and Co., advertisement in Playthings, March, 1958, 1. 165

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinlkham Assistant Examiner-R. T. StoufferAttorney-Max R. Kraus [5 7] ABSTRACT A novelty and amusement devicecomprising a simulated faucet having a suction cup whereby the faucetcan be detachably secured to any supporting surface which will retain asuction cup, to present the appearance of a conventional faucet properlysupported thereon. The simulated faucet provides a container which maybe filled with Uiquid or the like so that by turning the faucet handlethe liquid in the container will flow from the faucet, simulating thatof a conventional faucet. The simulated provides an unexpected resultwhen mounted on an unconventional surface such as a dining room orbedroom wall and the above stated turning action is taken.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 1 81872 MKMW ATTY.

NOVELTY AND AMUSEMENT IFAUCET BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of theobjects of this invention is to provide a novelty and amusement devicein the form of a simulated faucet provided with a suction cup devicewhereby it may be detachably secured to a surface to give the appearanceof a permanent attachment and in which the faucet can receive a givenamount of liquid which is hidden from view, and upon turning the faucethandle the liquid will flow from the faucet in much the same manner thatwater is discharged from the conventional water faucet. By mounting thesimulated faucet on a nonconventional surface, such as a dining room orbedroom wall, or on a filing cabinet door or the like, and filling thefaucet with water, which is not visible when in the faucet, an observerwill be surprised and entertained when the faucet handle is turned topermit the water or liquid to flow from the spout, simulating the flowfrom a conventional faucet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novelty and amusementdevice which by virtue of its surprise element will affordentertainment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a central sectional view of the device shown attached to asupporting surface.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof, and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the parts forming this device.

The device comprises a hollow faucet body or housing generally indicatedby the numeral 10, formed of two identical hollow half sections 12molded of plastic material, which are united by gluing or bonding alongtheir edges after the operating parts, to be described, are positionedtherein. The faucet body or housing is shaped to simulate a faucet andcomprises a longitudinal extending hollow portion 14 which merges into avertically extending hollow portion 16 open at the top and bottom as atM and 119, respectively. The rear end of the longitudinal portion isalso open as at 20. The vertical portion bulges outwardly at the frontas at 22 to simulate that of a faucet.

The bottom open end 119 of the vertical portion is closed by a capgenerally indicated at 24 which has,an outer annular wall 25 providedwith an alignment notch 26 which engages the projection 27 on theexterior of the vertical portion. The outer annular wall 25 has africtional fit with and surrounds the lower portion of the verticalportion. The cap has a spaced intermediate annular wall 28 provided witha cutout 30. The intermediate annular wall is shorter than the outerwall 25 and defines between it and the outer annular wall an annularspace 32. Spaced inwardly of the intermediate annular wall 28 is a shortcentral innermost annular wall 34 which defines between it and theintermediate wall an annular groove 36 for receiving the skirt of astem, to be described. The bottom of the cap has a bottom wall 38 whichis closed, except for a small central opening 39 passing through theaxis of the innermost annular wall.

A rotatable stem or spindle generally indicated at 40 is rotatablysupported at its lower end inside the intermediate wall 26. The bottomof the stem has an enlarged annular flange 432 from which depends anarcuate-shaped skirt 44 which serves as a valve. The lower end of theskirt is supported within the groove 36. The stem 4-0 is rotatable sothat the arcuate skirt 64 either blocks or unblocks the opening 30. Whenit blocks the opening the liquid entering the lower cap, particularlythe annular space 32 will be prevented from passing through the opening30 and will remain in the unit. When the stem 40 is rotated so that theopen portion adjacent the skirt is aligned with the opening 30 theliquid will pass through the annular space 32 and through the slotopening 30 and through the bottom opening 39 to be discharged from thefaucet.

The stem or spindle 40 has an upper annular shoulder 46, and extendingupwardly of the shoulder the stern has an annular portion 47, and abovethat has an end portion which has a flat side 48. An annular top capmember generally indicated at 50 surrounds the upper portion of the stemto support same. The top cap 50 has an outer annular wall 51 and aspaced shorter inner annular wall 52 with a central opening 53 extendingthrough the annular end wall 54 of the cap. The annular end wall of thecap extends beyond the outer annular wall to provide an annular lip 56.The outer annular wall of the cap fits within the upper open end 18 ofthe housing and the lip 56 rests on the upper edge of the housingadjacent the opening 18. The upper end of the stem extends through theopening 53, with the flat sided end terminating above the cap 50.

A tear-shaped hollow handle generally indicated at 58 operates the stem40. The handle has an annular wall 60 which fits over the end of theportion 16 of the faucet. The handle has a boss 62 provided with arecess 63 having a flat wall, which flat wall is aligned with the flatwall 48 at the top of the stem to rotate same.

The rear of the faucet housing has a recessed opening 64. The rear openend 20 of the faucet housing is closed by an end closure generallyindicated at 66, comprising an annular vertical end wall 67 and anannular wall 68 having a cutout or opening 69 therein. The closure has acentral hub 70 which is internally threaded to receive the metalthreaded stem 71 secured to a suction cup 72 which is secured to theclosure. Extending rearwardly from the end wall 67 is a plurality ofspaced pins 74 which engage the outer wall of the suction cup 72. Theannular wall 68 of the end cap is secured inside the open end 20 of thefaucet housing with the opening 69 of the closure aligned with theopening 64 on the edge of the housing. The aligned openings 64 and 69provide an opening for pouring a liquid into the interior of thehousing.

A slidable collar generally designated at'80 is slidably sup ported onthe horizontal portion of the housing. The collar when moved to itsrearrnost position, as shown in section in FIG. 1, serves to hide theopenings 64-69 and also to enclose and cover the suction cup 72 whenthe: unit is mounted on a supporting surface.

The unit may be detachably mounted on any supporting surface to which asuction cup may be applied, after which the interior of the housing isfilled with a liquid, such as water, through the openings 64-69 bysliding the collar to the dotted line position of FIG. 1. The collar isthen slid rearwardly to cover said openings and thesuction cup. Beforefilling the housing or faucet body, the handle 58 is turned so that theskirt 44 of the stem blocks the opening 30 which retains the liquid inthe housing. The device is then ready to be operated as an amusementdevice.

To surprise an unsuspecting person, the handle is rotated to align theskirt opening with the opening 30 and the liquid in the housing and inthe cap 24 will flow slowly out of the spout opening 39 simulating awater faucet. To the unsuspecting person the flow of a liquid from afaucet attached to a wall or to an unexpected surface will provide bothsurprise and amusement.

The parts, except for the suction cup, may be molded of opaque plasticmaterial, preferably polystyrene, and the parts which are exposed toview, such as the faucet body or housing, are vacuum plated with asilver coating to simulate the appearance of an actual water faucet. Theopaque housing will prevent anyone from seeing that the faucet is filledwith a liquid.

Iclaim:

I. A novelty device comprising, a simulated faucet having a hollowhousing and a hollow discharge nozzle at the front thereof communicatingwith the interior of the hollow housing and extending downwardly of thehousing, said housing having an inlet opening through which a liquid maybe manually poured to fill said housing and nozzle with said liquidbeing retained in said housing and nozzle, said nozzle having an outlet,a vertically supported spindle extending into said hollow nozzle,blocking means at the lower end of said spindle for blocking said nozzleoutlet, a handle secured to the top of said spindle and extending abovethe top of said housing, said hanshaped skirt, which is rotatable by therotation of the spindle within an annular wall of an end cap secured tothe lower end of the nozzle, with said annular wall having an openingwhich is blocked and unblocked by said arcuate skirt.

3. The device as set forth in claim 1 in which a slidable col lar closessaid inlet opening.

* w w n a:

1. A novelty device comprising, a simulated faucet having a hollowhousing and a hollow discharge nozzle at the front thereof communicatingwith the interior of the hollow housing and extending downwardly of thehousing, said housing having an inlet opening through which a liquid maybe manually poured to fill said housing and nozzle with said liquidbeing retained in said housing and nozzle, said nozzle having an outlet,a vertically supported spindle extending into said hollow nozzle,blocking means at the lower end of said spindle for blocking said nozzleoutlet, a handle secured to the top of said spindle and extending abovethe top of said housing, said handle when manually rotated adapted torotate the spindle and move said blocking means to unblock the nozzleopening so that the liquid within the housing and nozzle is dischargedthrough said nozzle outlet, and a suction cup at the rear end of saidhousing whereby said device may be detachably secured to a supportingsurface.
 2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the blocking meansat the lower end of the spindle includes an arcuate shaped skirt, whichis rotatable by the rotation of the spindle within an annular wall of anend cap secured to the lower end of the nozzle, with said annular wallhaving an opening which is blocked and unblocked by said arcuate skirt.3. The device as set forth in claim 1 in which a slidable collar closessaid inlet opening.